WSTA Team

Miles Beale

Chief Executive

Miles has overall responsibility for the activities and management of the WSTA, including advice, member services, public affairs, and media relations. His role includes building and leading, in conjunction with the Executive Board, the development of the WSTA’s strategy and priorities on behalf of WSTA members.

Simon Stannard

European Affairs Director

Simon joined the WSTA in September 2013 having previously worked for the UK Civil Service, including 10 years on secondment to the FCO at the UK’s Representation to the EU in Brussels where he was responsible for negotiating, amongst others, food safety issues. With responsibility for European Affairs, he is involved with a number of WSTA Committees including the English Wine Committee, Wine Importers Panel and Distance Selling Panel. Simon also represents the WSTA at meetings of the industry in Europe and is Chairman of the European Federation of Wine and Spirit Importers and Distributors.

David Richardson

Regulatory & Commercial Affairs Director

David joined the WSTA in March 2014, after a career prosecuting a wide range of cases for HM Customs and Excise, advising on law enforcement policy and working in other regulatory areas. He leads the WSTA’s work on responding to fraud, liaising with law enforcement agencies and brand protection teams. He sits on the Joint Alcohol and Tobacco Consultative Group and the Joint Customs Consultative Committee. He advises on compliance, particularly the implementation of the Alcohol Wholesaler Registration Scheme and HMRC's change programme. David supports the Logistics Group.

Jennifer Turner

Head of Technical Policy

As Head of Technical Policy to the WSTA, Jennifer works on both Wine and Spirits issues. Her role includes providing secretariat support to the Joint Technical Committee. Jennifer’s background is as an Analytical Biochemist (she has a PhD looking at the health benefits of red wine), and she worked for a number of years at the Food Standards Agency in both their Food Standards and Nutrition teams.

Lucy Panton

Director of Communication

Lucy joined the WSTA in July 2015 and brings with her over 18 years’ experience working as a journalist in the local and national media. She leads on all WSTA communications and her role includes media relations, corporate communications, and campaigning.

Carlo Gibbs

Director of UK Policy & Social Responsibilty

Carlo is responsible for managing the WSTA’s UK policy and public affairs program. Additionally, he leads on the WSTA’s social responsibility work through initiatives such as the Retail of Alcohol Standards Group and Challenge 25 and works with industry partners on local initiatives to tackle alcohol harm. He also supports retailer members, particularly around licensing obligations.

Ciaran Myles

Research & Insights Manager

Ciaran joined WSTA in October 2015. He is responsible for conducting market and consumer research, and providing insights and analysis of trends across all policy areas. He oversees the production of WSTA’s annual and quarterly reports as well as commissioning bespoke projects. He is responsible for the management of the Research & Insights Group.

Rob Ivory

Head of External Trade

Rob is responsible for managing our work on international trade and responsibility policy, for running our International Trade Working Group and for our interactions with institutions such as the WTO and WHO, and related work through UK Government departments such as DIT, Defra and the Department of Health. He leads WSTA interactions at European level on SpiritsEUROPE’s ‘External Trade’ and ‘Alcohol and Society’ committees. Rob provides the secretariat to the WSTA Spirits Committee and runs our Export Promotion Working Group.

Rebekah Kendrick

Brexit Policy and Programme Manager

Rebekah joined the WSTA in 2015 and is responsible for WSTA Brexit activity, with previous experience working in Westminster and on drinks industry campaigns. Previously Parliamentary Affairs Manager at the WSTA, her current role is focussed around Brexit policy and engaging with Government and Parliament to help secure the best possible deal for the wine and spirits industry when the UK leaves the European Union. Rebekah also manages the Association’s English wine activity, including the WSTA English Wine Group.

Gemma Keyes

Head of Corporate Services

Gemma is responsible for the management and delivery of all HR and financial functions, including personnel management, strategic operations, and risk management. Gemma is also Company Secretary and coordinates the WSTA Audit Committee and Executive Board.

Samantha Creer

PA & Team Assistant

Samantha provides PA support to the Chief Executive. Her role also includes managing the WSTA website and Trade Diary, and she is responsible for updating the WSTA database. She provides support to the team and assists with WSTA events.

Tom Pratt

Communication Manager

Tom joined the WSTA at the start of the month from the British Beer & Pub Association where he was Campaigns & Communications Officer. Prior to this Tom spent time with Drinkaware in their Business Development team, and at McMullen’s Brewery in Hertfordshire. Tom works closely with the Director of Communication, across both internal and external communications; liaising with WSTA members, the WSTA team and Board, and as first point of contact for media enquiries.